Witnessing Myself

Once I walked, from dawn to dusk, to a school located in remote hill region of Chitwan, and back home in town. As I walked briskly in the morning with energy and vigor, it took me little less than 5 hours to get to the school. But upon returning, I spent more than 6 hours walking under the sun that took a full toll on my body. I could feel the pain under my feet. That pain gradually moved upward in ultra slow motion from feet to ankle, to leg, and to the knees. I could clearly feel the pain ascending up as if I was a witness to what is happening to my body. I realized that sense of pain is one thing because it is certainly painful, whilst witnessing the pain is completely a different thing, an awakening experience. The witnessing the pain made fun of my misery. I was saying to myself, “See, what pain is? You could have stayed in the village and come back tomorrow. Now you well deserve this suffering.” Well, I was determined on my mission and I knew exactly what I needed to do, for my mind is active and aware of the situation.

Farm Fragrance

My father has been a passionate farmer, as he spent most of his life in farmland cultivating crops to sustain the family.

 

 

I still remember the enormous pile of corn accumulated in every corner of house that was brought from cornfield.

Maize Amazed

Traditional agriculture in Nepal largely depends on rain, especially in hill region where there is no irrigation facilities. This year, there is not much pre-monsoon rain that has severe impact on crops mainly maize.

This long drought and scorching heat make new shoots of maize get dried and they are at the verge of complete destruction if there is no rain sooner.

Reminiscence Of Past Journey

Mahabharat range on the north and Churiya hills on south run parallel east to west at the straight line difference of some 35 km creating beautiful landscape on the earth, Chitwan Valley, also known as inner Terai, lush, green and fertile land once all covered with dense sal forest with plenty of mega mammals.

Yoga Retreat

The 'Yoga Retreat' commenced on April 16, 2012 with visit to important religious and cultural sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

Tanka Duwadi, renowned culture guide, escorted some 11 yogis and yoginis to Pashupatinath, the venerable shrine for Hindus, where we observed many temples, divine statues, meditative caves and Hindu funeral practice that Tanka described the detail of religious and cultural significances.

Wecome Peace Corps

I experienced, as language instructor for Peace Corps Volunteers, that teaching language is challenging on contrary of belief that teaching own language should be easier. I had not realized before, the ambiguities and exceptions of grammar and structures that virtually have no explanations. But teaching modules have been designed in such a way to ease our tasks that have been effective for trainees as well.

Coffee Training For Farmers

Organic coffee plantation training for farmers was held in Upardang Gadi on January 23 and 24, 2012. Kulchandra Adhikari, professional coffee trainer and farmer of Begnas, Kaski conducted the training in Upardang Gadi Primary School for some 36 farmers of Gadi and its surrounding villages.

Organic Coffee Project, initiated by Books for Nepal and Soleil-Vert (France), intends to do the trial plantation initially in Upardang Gadi that aims commercial coffee farming for economic development of the region.

Debt Of Meat

People have easy access to variety of meat in city and town. Freshly slaughtered goat and buffalo can be seen in meat shops where customers could purchase required quantity. Consumption of processed meat is also increasing among the city dwellers.

But people in remote villages do not have such opportunity. You could not find even small grocery shops in most hill villages. They all rush down to nearest town for buying or selling things.

Helicopter In Historic Upardang Gadi

Once it was wildest dream for common Nepalis to fly on helicopter as it is too costly to charter it. Helicopter had been prerogative of the exclusive class of royals, militaries, politicians and foreigners.

But now people can enjoy such privilege. Ratnanagar Mahotsab (exhibition) has provided the opportunity for people to fulfill their dream. The first event of this kind in Chitwan, helicopter program allowed people to fly sky high to have aerial view of important sites: Devghat, Chitwan National Park and Siraichuli. They also landed on Upardang Gadi (alt: 1275 m.), the first district headquarters of Chitwan, to observe ancient fort, know its archaeological importance and get the first-hand information of rich cultural diversity of the region.